pay rate in LA?

pabrid · Aug 25, 2004

Hi,
Could someone tell me how much a registered psychiatric nurse with a mental health certificate and 7yrs experience working in an acute inpatient setting in LA would earn?
Thanks
chloe125

I think that this will vary from one facility to the next. I just started working per diem for one facility and I earn $38.00. One of the newly experienced R.N.'s told me she was hired in at $32.00. These salaries are higher than most places pay. I work two per diem positions and do occasional E.R. registry work because I'm in school full-time.

Gomer · Aug 25, 2004

Good luck finding an inpatient psy. job in LA. Most of the inpatient psy. units have been closed. I believe only UCLA and Cedars still have them....but I could be wrong.

Also, remember that the rates may be high, but so is the cost of living. A 1-bedroom apartment in a good area will start at $1000+. The average cost of a house (to buy) is now in the $400K range. Car insurance is out of sight. And, I wont even mention the sales, city, and state taxes. But I still love living here and don't plan to move until the next big earthquake! Welcome and I hope you find the job you want.

chloe125 · Aug 25, 2004

Good luck finding an inpatient psy. job in LA. Most of the inpatient psy. units have been closed. I believe only UCLA and Cedars still have them....but I could be wrong.
Also, remember that the rates may be high, but so is the cost of living. A 1-bedroom apartment in a good area will start at $1000+. The average cost of a house (to buy) is now in the $400K range. Car insurance is out of sight. And, I wont even mention the sales, city, and state taxes. But I still love living here and don't plan to move until the next big earthquake! Welcome and I hope you find the job you want.

Thank you Gomer for your reply. I'm checking out work through an agent initially that's why I'm curious about rates of pay sans agent fees. Any clue as to what a CNS would earn? If the inpatient units are closing down where are the acutely ill recieving treatment?

Gomer · Aug 25, 2004

You might want to check out Cedars website. I noticed they have a CNS psy position posted. It's exempt but it looks like the pay range is between $31.52 to $47.28 an hour. As for where the acutely ill psy. patients go? That's a good question. When funds were cut, by both the State and Federal agencies, for such programs we were promised that outpatient clinics would be developed. Never saw that happening. Many who would have received treatment are now classified as "homeless" and live on the streets. Not a pretty picture.

kurlykay · Aug 25, 2004

I'm not a psych nurse but I'm a recent RN graduate. At my school we did a psych inpatient rotation at UC Irvine in southern CA. You may want to check out that hospital. They have a really great inpatient program with both adult and child units. When I did clinical there they were hiring, but I don't know what they were paying. We also did a rotation at harbor UCLA. They have 2 adult units and a psych ER but UC Irvine had better programs for their patients. I hope this info is helpful. Good luck to you in whatever hospital you choose.